GENEVA — The rising number of COVID-19 cases across Europe will soon bring many hospitals to their limit, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, according to DPA.

Last week, the number of cases reported in Europe was almost three times higher than during the first peak in March, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference in Geneva.

Tedros warned that "hospitalizations are increasing, and many cities are reporting they will reach their intensive care bed capacity in a few weeks."

This trend worries the WHO because the influenza season in the northern hemisphere will increase the need for hospital beds.

Tedros said countries should take a common approach to COVID-19 and influenza, as both diseases can be fought with the same strategies such as distancing, clean hands, masks and well-aired rooms.

As there is not enough influenza vaccine to cover the entire population in some countries, the WHO advises health workers and elderly people be immunized first. — SPA